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abut out Dissenters , nor was any idea entertained that it would have that effect ; as a proof of this , there were at that time fifty Presbyterians in the House of Commons . The Test Act was passed under the influence of great alarm concerning the Catholics , and for the purpose of excluding them from civil
offices : it was even supported by the Dissenters in Parliament . In fact , however much attached individuals might be to their religion , there was nothing in that circumstance to prevent their being very loyal subjects . Queen Elizabeth knevy this , and appointed Catholics to her naval commands . On the other baud , in the late Irish rebellion there
were many persons — Wolfe Tone , for example—who would have readily taken any religious- test proposed to them ; so little security did tests afford to a government . The main object of the Test Act was to prevent Charles II . from . appointing Catholics to civil offices ; it was meant as a check upon that king . It was therefore absurd to apply it against sects for whom it was never meant , and
against a king of a totally opposite character . The noble Lord then traced the history of various attempts to repeal ^ he Test Acts , which had been supported . by many eminent statesmen , by Bishops Hoadly and Kennet , and the liberal members of the Church . During the last eighty-five years a most anomalous state of things prevailed : a Bill was passed every year , indemnifying the Dissenters who had not conformed to the
Test Acts . This was a very objectionable system for a permanence . If the Dissenters were dangerous , they ought to be wholly excluded ; but if not , they ought to be fully admitted to all civil advantages . There was a strong objection to the nature of the Test . A solemn sacrament was proposed , and at the same time a temptation was held out to take it in bad faith for the sake of
worldly profit and honour . It was stated in historical works , that it was the custom for persons to be waiting in taverns and houses near the Church , not going ; in till the service was over . The ceremony used to be called " qualifying for office ; " and an appointed person , called out , "Those who want to be qualified will please to step up this way . " ( A tough . } Persons , then , took the communion for the purpose of receiving o / Iicc , and with no other intent whatever . Such were the consequences of mixing politics with religion . It was , sometimes said that the grievances of Dissenters were now only theoretical ^
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that tfeey were not itept out of office , aud had nothing to complain of . Evert if it were so , was it not most objectionable to keep acts on the statute-book which were founded on the principle of religious persecution ? - But the truth was , much practical evil resulted from these Acts . The annual indemnity was :
given on the ground that the omission ? to qualify was occasioned by illness , absence , or unavoidable accident ; and it ? had been justly said by a Noble Lord , ' ¦* that it was mental fraud ; on the part of the Dissenters to take advantage of the bills of indemnity /'" . Consequently , to his knowledge , many abte men amongthe Dissenters would on no account
take office , -for they considered the legal conditions degrading . It was also in the power of any corporation , actuated by bigotry or personal animosity , to carry the Corporation Act inta effect against the Dissenters . If the security of the Church of England was founded solely on the Test and Corporation Acts , what was the security for the ' Church of Scotland ? And how could
Ireland have remained without such Acts ? The particular circumstance * which led . to the passing of the Test and Corporation Acts in the reign of Charles H . had wholly ceased . The Dissenters were no longer a party disaffected to the Hanover succession or the Government . Did any man suspect ? George IV . of popery ? The object for
which these Acts were passed no longer existed ; and it became us to imitate the liberal wisdom of neighbouring nations . In Holland , the Netherlands , some parts of Germany , Austria , and Austrian Itatyy persons of all religious persuasions were eligible to office . If he were asked what ? advantages the country was to derive from the abrogation of Test Laws , he
would say , that independently of its justice , it would render the Dissenters better affected to the Government , it would be more consonant to the spirit of the age than the existence of those angry yet inefficient and impracticable laws which were a disgrace to the statute-book .
Whatever Parliaments or Kings might fancy of their power , they must to a certain extent conform to the spirit of the times . His Lordship concluded by moving for a Committee of the whole House , in order to take into consideration the present state of the laws affecting Dissenters .
Air . John Smith seconded the motion . Mr . WfLBRAiiAM supported the motion in a very eloquent speech . Sir W . Inolis opposed the motion .
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fnifcUigench ^ Corpomtioh and Test Actk ' %%
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), April 2, 1828, page 273, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2559/page/57/
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